A story I wrote for a contest, we had to include the scene of a picture in the story. On the picture was an elf seemingly sleeping in low waters with two arrows planted in his abdomen, in the background was a human with a bow looking surprised…

A story I wrote for Brilcrist's contest. She is an artist on Deviantart a site that I really recomend you. I will be lazy and instead of explaining the contest I will only put the link to it on my profil. just so everyone know, I was to late to give back the story so I don't know if it will actually be part of the contest. But since it is written I won't let in rot in my computer. Good reading everyone.

Part 1

Seastnan: Old Gaelic name
meaning "bodyguard", derived from the word seasuighim,
meaning "to defend; to resist".

Sun was about to set, orange light was flooding
through the large windows, making the usually white stonewalls look
as if they were burning from the inside. The main-hall was always a
quite place in both appearance and noise level. And that was why
Deirbhile usually liked to spend time there. But today she wasn't
calm and it took away half of the reposing atmosphere she had been
seeking by coming here. To add to her discomfort, a few strands had
escaped from the intricate braid into which her white blond hair had
been knotted and, despite her effort to push them back behind her
pointy hear, a particularly sneaky curl was constantly coming back to
tickle her nose.

On a nearby chair Anrai was talking with his
adviser, or more accurately trying to listen to the man. For everyone
else in the room he probably looked deeply concentrated with his head
slightly hunched and his bright blue eyes, the same as Deirbhile's,
fixed on the old man facing him. But Deirbhile knew that her
brother's mind was actually far away from the matter that was exposed
to him. As if sensing that he was watched Anrai lifted his head and
his gaze locked with Deirbhile's. His eyebrows lifted in question but
she reassured him with a little smile. It didn't fool him in the last
but there was nothing they could do for now so both returned to what
they were doing, or at least what they pretended to be doing.

XYZ

Far away in the wood the matter was entirely else.
For one Seastnan would have given pretty much anything to be able to
stop and sit down for a while. He felt as if his feet were becoming
heavier with each step. They were only now barely leaving the ground
and it made for interesting encounter with the many roots scattering
the forest ground. And he couldn't fall anymore; falling had become a
synonym of death from the moment he hadn't known any more if he could
get back on his feet. He couldn't pause either because he didn't know
if he would find the strength to keep going if he stopped.

No, his only concern now was to keep moving.
Slowly, but moving nonetheless.

But, was tempting a little voice in the back of
his mind, it had been a long time since he had heard of them. To
which the rational part of him countered that it didn't mean
anything. They had been trained not to be heard. For all he knew they
could be watching him right now, laughing at the way he was dragging
himself forward, desperately trying to ignore the exhaustion and the
pain in his feet. Well then, tried the little voice again, wouldn't
it be better to stop since he would never do it? Why suffer when he
could just let them finish him cleanly and quickly? How many days had
it been now? Playing hide and seek with his pursuers, barely eating,
sleeping an hour or so and waking abruptly at the first little noise,
cold, stiff and as tired as before?

Help should have arrived by now which meant that
Anrai hadn't received his message. One more traitor to add on the
list. If he ever got out of this mess he would have a few words with
his prince about those friends of his.

A hole in the ground made him trip and for a
second he thought that this would be the end. Maybe it wouldn't be
too bad. With some luck he would break his neck and they would find
him like that… or achieve him in his sleep. Either way he wouldn't
suffer much. And, oh, how he whished he could sleep. But there was
still Anrai. Anrai had trusted him, he couldn't let him to believe
all what they had said to be true. And what would think Deirbhile? If
he died what would happen of her? She was too sensitive for her own
good. If he died now either she would never forgive him or she would
die of sorrow, she was totally the kind to do that. And then he would
be the one who wouldn't be able to forgive himself. No, he couldn't
die. Not now, not ever. Not until he could go back and explain.
Somehow he managed to regain his balance.

Moving, he had to keep moving.

XYZ

Deirbhile was about to do something drastic and
stupid like start shouting when the guards came in. She watched from
the corner of her eye, as their captain approached her brother to
whisper something she couldn't hear from where she was. Anrai
listened attentively, his beautiful face set into a neutral
expression. After only a few seconds, he gestured for the man to
follow him through a door behind him. The room it lead to was an
antechamber from which you could access the prince's own quarters and
Deirbhile knew that whatever Anrai would learn he would go think it
over calmly in his meditation chamber. Which meant they wouldn't see
him anymore tonight.

She switched her attention back to the flowers in
front of her but couldn't concentrate on it anymore. Anrai had
insisted that she kept to her usual occupation until they could learn
anything more and for three days now she had been waiting, whishing
to wake up and discover that it all had been a bad dream. There was
simply now way she could wait anymore. And certainly not until the
morning or whatever time her brother would see fit to reveal her what
he knew. If anything had happened to Seastnan she had a right to
know.

Abandoning the flowers she got up and strode along
the hall towards Anrai's apartments.

XYZ

Running… What a difficult thing it was actually.
And what a pitiful attempt at escaping them. Truthfully, if he hadn't
managed to do it at this point then how would he outrun them now that
he was so worn-out he couldn't walk straight? A brief glance behind
him almost made him fall when he once again tripped on his own feet.
Not seeing them for now was the only thing in his favour.

XYZ

Anrai was still in the antechamber but the guard
was gone. The prince was pale and trying to recover from what he had
just learnt. In an attempt to ignore the bothering information he
tried instead to point out just when exactly everything had started
going downhill. Had it been when Seastnan, which he trusted above
everyone else, had been accused of being a traitor? Or when, instead
of coming to him to claim his innocence and explain how all this was
a machination –it had to be, or at least Anrai had to believe it
was-, Seastnan had simply disappeared? Had it been when Anrai had
given orders to look for him only to be told by a hesitant guard who
had clearly been instructed not to, that a hunt had already been
ordered? Or sooner maybe? Could all this have been avoided if he had
paid more attention?

Memories of Seastnan trying to talk to him about
something were stalked him now. Why had he not listened? Upon
remembering all the excuses he had back then, none seemed important
enough to ignore his friend.

It suddenly appeared as obvious that his friend's
demeanour had been odd. Even before his disappearance he had been
less and less present, he could remember of a few exchanges with
Deirbhile where she had asked about his whereabouts and he hadn't
been able to answer. Actually he hadn't heard of Seastnan for a whole
week before this traitor nonsense which itself had been presented to
his notice only five days ago. Add to that the two days it had taken
him to realize that Seastnan was nowhere to be found and wouldn't
come to him to explain everything like he had always done until now.
Now he was wondering how long all this had truly been going on.

When he finally decided himself to move to his
meditation chamber it was to find Deirbhile sitting in his living
room. He didn't know if he should feel cornered or simply relieved.
She wouldn't let him hide.

She stood up at his entrance and faced him
resolutely.

"So? Where is he?"

She must have read the sadness on his face for she
asked once again ton full of warning.

"Anrai, where is he?"

"Oh Deir… I'm so sorry."

Her eyes widened with understanding and he had
just time to catch her before she fell to the floor in tears.

Seastnan had been his best friend, but to
Deirbhile he was the one to whom she had given her heart.

He just held her while she cried, not knowing what
else in the world he could do.

XYZ

The ground had slowly turned into a maze. Seastnan
was back to walking again, there was no way he was running with water
to his knees in his state of fatigue. He could hear them now. They
would catch with him soon. It was too late now, but even so he
couldn't resign himself to just let go. Maybe he had just been
walking so long his body didn't know how to stop anymore.

A hundred steps latter he had noticeably slowed
down in an attempt to make less noise. They were so close he was
finally able to understand what they were saying, but still unable to
see them through the abundant vegetation. Apparently they were
arguing over the possibility of having lost him. If it hadn't
indicated his position to them he would have laughed. It was too good
to be true. Almost immediately though a misjudged step lost him his
balance and the splashing sound made them go silent. He went still,
hoping they would go back to their banter. But luck wasn't on his
side.

"It was coming from over there."

"Hurry up everyone!"

The splashing was approaching and now that he had
stopped he couldn't bring himself to move anymore. Thinking that he
would at least face his pursuers when they caught with him he turned
around slowly. Between the trees he saw them appear. At his sight
they stopped. He was able to see the surprise on their face when he
didn't try to flee, could see them bend their bow, ready to shot at
the first suspicious move on his part. Most of them he didn't
recognize but one or two he had already spoken to when he was still
Anrai's personal guard. He was a little surprise when he recognized
Imhear who he used to think of as a friend.

The later even had the decency to look sorry to be
here. Or perhaps it was the walking in knee-high water for a few
hours that made his expression this gloomy. Their captain ordered
them to be on their guard, which drew Seastnan's attention on him.
This one he knew as well for he had seen him with the traitors
responsible for all this mess. Abruptly, he realized that there was
no hope to expect. They would never let him live to explain the truth
to his prince. He would die here, in the smelling maze with a week
worth of dirt and sweat on him. Some irrational part of his mind
wondered if the goddess of death would let him in heaven stinky and
covered in grime.

Since he had nothing to lose maybe he could try to
pass a message to Anrai. Yes, that was the thing to do. Lifting his
hand in surrender he willed his feet to support him for a few step.
The first one seemed to take him hours. His felt as if his feet had
transformed into lead.

Whatever they were expecting him to do it didn't
include him surrendering apparently. He could approach at least ten
steps before someone ordered him to stop. One of the men, not the
captain, Maybe he wasn't the usual commander of the group then. Maybe
they hadn't had time to send only their followers. Maybe Imhear was
truly sorry to be here.

He stopped, now wasn't the time to get shot.
"Help." He murmured weakly instead. "Please I need
help."

The captain shouted for him to shut up and ordered
the others to shot. They hesitated.

"Please someone tell the prince to be wary
of…" He saw the arrow before he really felt it. It didn't
register at first but when it did it only urged him to get someone,
anyone to pass the message to Anrai. " Tell the prince that…"
The second arrow came soon after the first. His knee buckled under
him and he started coughing. The taste of blood invaded his mouth,
red droplets felt on his shirt. He tried to talk once more but it
only sent him in a coughing fit. They hadn't even shot him properly.
He heard someone scream his name and lifted his head. Imhear was
looking at him with confusion in his eyes, the captain was screaming
at everyone to stay away in case Seastnan would still be able to
fight. In a last desperate attempt he tried to say it again. He could
only force a murmur to pass his lips but knew immediately that there
was no way anyone could have heard him. Then the pain finally
registered and in a futile attempt to escape it his body trashed on
his own sending him on his side on the ground. His hands went to the
arrows only to send more waves of pain when he touched it.

As if from far away he could hear Imhear's voice.

"Why did you shot? He wasn't trying to defend
himself. We could've got him alive!"

"Shut up!" Snapped the captain's voice.
"Do you really think he would've just come with us without a
fight? He was just trying to lure us into coming close."

"But…" Tried Imhear in a less assured
voice.

"Let him rot. That's all he deserves. I don't
want anyone to get close to that traitor."

Seastnan didn't know if he should laugh or feel
insulted. There would be no burial ceremony for him, which was the
worst disgrace one could suffer. And by seemingly dishonouring the
traitor the captain ensured that nobody could come close enough to
hear him say what he knew. Everything had been for nothing, he had
failed.

Part 2

Bryn: Welsh unisex name meaning "hill".

Bryn wondered if he was really as stupid as he was
sometimes told. How else did you explain that he had listened and
actually wandered to the maze? And then decided to enter it upon
hearing noises and stayed to spy a bunch of elves shot one of their
own? But even all the above could be blamed on curiosity. No, what
was really bothering him was the fact that, after the leave of the
group of still standings elves, he had approached the scene. He had
always wanted to see an elf, and to see one from close was simply too
tempting a possibility to pass.

He was a little disappointed when this one didn't
prove as pretty as elves were said to be. His skin was sickly pale
except for the dark circles around his eyes, his hair was so filthy
that it was hard to tell which colour it was supposed to be, his
clothes seemed to have been of a good facture but once again that was
hard to tell with the blood and mud covering them.

But you could still see the elegant embroideries
on his collar, his hears had this pointy shape that he had heard of
and when looking beyond the grim, he was the most beautiful being
that Bryn had ever seen. Even Saya, the daughter of the village
blacksmith, wasn't as pretty.

He approached and kneeled in the water to have a
better view of the creature. Hesitantly, he reached foot the elf's
face and touched it with the tip of his finger. The skin was still
warm, feverish even. Frowning slightly Bryn approached the side of
his head from the elf's mouth.

A faint breath of hair tickled his ear.

It was still alive.

Bryn grimaced. It had never crossed his mind that
the elf could be anything else but dead. Surely the other wouldn't
have left him if it were the case. Not that he knew anything about
elves. But that wasn't the point. The elf wasn't dead. Did it mean
that Bryn should help him? What had he to gain from doing so?

What have you to lose from doing so?

Grimacing Bryn massaged his forehead.

"No need to shout you know." He murmured
absently. This time he took hold of the arrows and broke the shaft as
close to the body as he dared. The elf didn't even stir which wasn't
a really good sign.

The boy pondered briefly his next move. He
couldn't just carry the elf on his back because then the arrows would
be between them and they would move. Stomach wounds were bad enough
without him adding to it. But he didn't know how long he could carry
him in his arms.

Sighing Bryn resigned himself for a long and
tiring walk home.

XYZ

Seastnan woke up slowly. First to the pain in his
stomach, then to the noises around him. It took him a while to
understand what was said. It wasn't a language he was used to, but he
had learnt it long ago to please Deirbhile.

The ones speaking around him were humans.

"He is awake." Said a voice. It was too
deep for a female, deeper also than a child. Male then, though
probably still young.

"Are you sure? His eyes are still closed."
Asked a cawing voice from further in the room. This one he knew from
the quavering, was an old human.

"He is awake." Answered the first voice
matter-of-factly. "Do you think he understands us?"

"Maybe, elf tend to have a knack for
languages, they often learn to speak several of them. Then again,
humans are not highly thought of at the elf court so maybe he
doesn't." A rather well informed old human. In his experience
those were usually more annoying, either because they asked a lot of
questions or because they wanted things. "Well if our host
really is awake then we might as well feed him. Get me a cup of stew
boy. And the medicine on the shelf over there."

There was the noise of fabric as the nearer human
moved away, then the clatter of kitchen utensils being used. The
other human approached bringing with it a thick odour of herbs and
smoke that wasn't wholly unpleasant. Seastnan decided that now was as
good a time as ever to open his eyes. It was quite dark but he could
make out a fire in front of which a silhouette was busying itself.
Between the silhouette and the bed he was lying on was a table
covered by so many items you couldn't make them out of the mass. The
walls were covered in shelf as packed as the table, several glints
attracted his eyes on various strange objects of the like he had
never seen, even though some were obviously of elf facture. By moving
his head a little he could see the foot of the bed near which was
standing the ugliest human being he had ever seen. It was small, its
skin brown and wrinkled from spending time under the sun, with white
and grey hair spouting in every direction. When it noticed his open
eyes, the being frowned, which made it look funny, and approached
some more.

"So he was right." It grumbled to no one
in particular.

The other human stopped what it had been doing by
the fire and shook its head in a clearly annoyed gesture. Then it
took something on the table and approached the bed. Seastnan was
expecting it to speak to the little person but instead it gave it the
bowl and vial it had been holding and approached him.

"If you can understand then I will ask you to
help me sit you up. Eating while laying will only make you choke on
your meal." The human then reached for his arm with one hand and
passed the other under his back. Seastnan helped as best he could,
which he found out wasn't much. And when he was sitting against the
pillows the little human sat down on a nearby chair and gave him the
bowl.

It was warm and smelt of soup despite its poor
appearance. Seastnan drank it as quickly as he could without burning
himself. The taste wasn't much compared to the cooking he had been
accustomed to at the elf castle, but it was good to have food in his
stomach after so long. When he was finished the little being took
away the bowl and shoved a vial in his hands while instructing him to
drink it wholly.

If medicine was as effective as it smelled badly
then this one was up for miracles. Gods did it stink. And the taste
was best forgotten forever. Drinking this was like torture. But the
little human was starring at him so he drank it all.

When he was finished he felt as tired as if he
hadn't just woken a few minutes ago. Briefly wondering if it had
anything to do with the tonic he soon went back to sleep.

XYZ

Heulog watched the elf a moment more before
turning toward Bryn. She didn't look reproachful but he knew she
wasn't too happy either. "Now what boy?" She asked tiredly.

He shrugged. "I don't know."

She stared at him like if it would give her the
information she wanted but when it didn't she shook her head in
resignation "Sometimes I wonder why I even bother." She
grumbled.

Bryn smiled affectionately "Because if you
didn't no one else would." Then his smile turned playful "Beside
you want to know how it works more than I do."

She didn't smile back, only turned abruptly toward
another smaller bed in a corner of the room. "Well then since he
is your guest you keep watch tonight. Wake me up for anything you
can't handle on your own. I wouldn't want you to ruin my work."
And with that she went to bed.

Bryn didn't stop smiling. He knew by now that the
old woman never smiled. It didn't mean that she didn't like him; she
just wasn't one to display her affection. He looked around and
decided the place could use some cleaning. It wouldn't wake Heulog
for she slept like the dead. And the elf would be too far gone what
with the awful decoction she had given him. He took a few seconds to
stare, amazed at what the old woman could keep for her potions. It
had already been a surprise the first year he had worked for her but
it seemed that she had acquired even more strange objects since then.

There was hours of work ahead of him but it was
his task to keep the house clean so there was no helping it. It would
have been as long and tedious at the farm anyway. The schedule just
wasn't the same. And here he wasn't that poor Bryn with whom nobody
knew how to react.

Singing softly an old melody that he had probably
heard his father whistle at the farm he began clearing the table.

XYZ

This time when Seastnan woke up he was met with
the sound of someone moving things around while singing
absentmindedly. It was a pretty song as far as his knowledge in music
went. The odour of smoke and herbs was less overwhelming and he could
feel the soft caress of fresh air on his skin. He opened his eyes.
The fire was still lit and an opened window was letting a ray of
silver light in the room. The table had been cleared; the shelves
were more cluttered than before if it was even possible. He could now
make out the little bed in which was sleeping the little human.
Someone passed in front of the fire casting a shadow on the wall. The
song stopped, replaced by the voice of the other human.

"Good night."

By reflex he tried to sit up but the wound at his
side sent a wave of pain in his whole body. With a sharp intake of
breath he stilled, opting instead for just moving his head.

He hadn't been able to see that human clearly
until now. It looked quite young. Beside that there wasn't much to
say on it. It had mud brown hair and a dull face. Neither ugly like
the little one, nor pretty, just… well human. He couldn't see its
eyes for now but knowing the humans they were probably brown as well.
Even its clothes were dull. Clothes made by human could never reach
elf fabrication, most things made by humans couldn't, but those one
were clearly cheap and made to work outside. It was almost a wonder
that it seemed so clean.

The human didn't seem to mind the starring; it
stayed still for a moment then started to speak again.

"Are you hungry? There's still some of that
stew." It didn't wait for an answer and went directly to one of
the shelf from which it pulled a bowl from all the mess. It then
turned toward the fireplace and the cauldron that was still suspended
there. When it lifted the cap a strong odour of cooked meat and
vegetables escaped. The human filled the bowl and grabbed a spoon in
his way toward the bed in which the elf was laying. Seastnan tried
once again to sit up, more slowly this time and half managed it
before he felt arm on his shoulder and back. Sitting properly he was
given the bowl, which he ate a little more slowly than he had the
first one a few hours ago.

The younger human didn't stay by his side to watch
him eat. Instead it went back to what it had been doing. It grabbed a
cloth and shook it by the window to get ride of the dust, then he
passed it on the table, on the shelves though how he could do this
without making anything fall was a mystery. Not once did it look his
way but when Seastnan finished eating the human put aside the cloth
and came back to him, hand extended for the bowl.

"An other one?" Asked the human.

Seastnan shook his head no.

The human paused. "Oh, so you do understand
us."

Seastnan shrugged, it seemed to be enough for the
boy for he took the bowl away to clean it.

Now that he had his stomach full and his head
clear Seastnan could think on the situation. It wasn't really good
but better than when he was being chased in the wood by his own kind.
Maybe he could still make things better. Looking around once more he
spotted his cuirass. It had been cleaned but as he had feared the
arrows had let a hole. Not that surprising seeing as it was one he
used in the palace and those were more meant for show than actual
protection. But this one had been quite solid considering its
lightness. Plus it was a present from Deirbhile. Maybe once he was
back home he could find someone to repair it. It shouldn't be that
hard to get to Anrai to tell him everything he had discovered. Then
he hoped their friendship would be stronger than all the lies they
might have told him. Surely his prince would have found out by now
that something was wrong. When he had had to flee everything was so
messed up at the court that you had to be blind not to notice it. For
a second he even imagined the possibility of him going back only to
discover that everything was back to normal. They would be waiting
for him -or thinking him dead- and would be all too happy to welcome
him back. Sneering inwardly he put the idea aside. It was simply
impossible.

He had to go back as soon as possible and talk
with Anrai. How much time had been lost already while he was trying
to escape those who should have helped him and after that when he was
lying unconscious in this bed?

Turning his head he saw that the young human was
now sitting at the table, slicing something while trying to stay
awake. "How long have I been here?" At first the human
didn't move, then it lifted its head and looked in his direction
hesitantly as if asking if he had been the one talking. "How
long?" Repeated Seastnan a little annoyed.

"Two days." Finally answered the human.
"And it took me a whole other day to carry you here."

"How did you find me?" Asked Seastnan
out of curiosity.

"I heard noises. I saw the others shot you. I
was surprised to find you alive. Aren't Elves supposed to be good at
archery?"

"They weren't really trying to kill me"
defended the elf.

"Oh." Answered the boy.

Silence stretched between them. The human didn't
seem to want to know more. Strange, Seastnan had heard that humans
were nosey and talked a lot. It was something elves made fun of.
Seastnan himself wasn't really one to talk. By elf standard he was
kind of a loner. But those considerations wouldn't help him to reach
the prince.

"Where are we?"

This time the human answered at once.

"Near the village of Bellwood. About half a
day from the maze by feet."

Seastnan frowned "I don't know that name. Do
you have a map?"

The boy looked around. "There is probably one
somewhere. I can look for it but I don't promise anything."

As it was speaking it approached the shelves and
started to search. After a while it came out with a piece of skin
approximately the shape of a rectangle. Lighting a candle it gave the
map to the elf.

"We are there." It said, pointing their
location on the map.

Looking more closely Seastnan was surprised to
find he wasn't that far from the elf territory, if the map wasn't too
out of proportions. Maybe a five days walk to the palace; even with
his wound it couldn't be more than six days. Considering he had been
fleeing for a whole week he must have gotten more lost than he had
thought.

"Does it help?"

"Yes it does." Answered Seastnan
absentmindedly. "Do you think I could find a good sword or a bow
somewhere?"

It was the absence of response once again that
drew Seastnan's eyes on the human. Its head was slightly bent to the
side as if listening to something. Its face was set into a neutral
expression when it answered. "Maybe, in a few days you might be
well enough to go look by yourself." Seastnan thought briefly
that it looked in pain. Particularly when it got up and massaged its
forehead with one hand. It sighed and looking nowhere in particular
said, "You should sleep. Tomorrow will be… a busy day."
It looked sideway at the bed of the little human "Heulog won't
like it she wanted to do her laundry." A brief tired smile
passed on its features before it turned to help him in a more
comfortable position to sleep. Only when Seastnan was laying
comfortably on the bed did the human move back. In the process, a ray
of light fell on its face allowing the elf to see its eyes. They
weren't brown as he had thought, nor were they dull. One was a pretty
blue and the other a very pale grey.

Part 3

Heulog: Welsh unisex name meaning "sunny".

A loud pounding at the door interrupted the
beautiful dream she was having. She heard Bryn go to the door and
speak to the bugger. A little while later he was shaking her shoulder
with urgency.

"Heulog, Heulog wake up."

"I'm already awake boy." She grumbled,
shoving him aside to get on her feet. "What's happening this
time?" A brief glance at the window informed her that sun wasn't
up. An other glance in the opposite direction showed the elf, awake
and looking at them with interest. She returned her attention to Bryn
in time to catch his answer.

"There is a fire in the inn. Some people have
been injured." He put a basket in her hand and she could see it
contained everything she would need from balm for the burns to syrup
for those who had inhaled too much smoke. He couldn't have enough
time since the man arrival to prepare. The vials and containers had
been scattered on too many shelves, which meant he should have had
the basket prepared in advance when he couldn't know about the fire.
But he was Bryn and so the basket was ready with medicine and
breakfast. Making an approving noise she instructed for the boy to
stay here and grab some sleep. More quietly to avoid anyone else to
hear her she also told him to make sure nobody would see their guest.
And with that done she left, following the messenger to the village.

All in all it wasn't as bad as it seemed. The
second floor of the inn was in bade shape but it would provide a good
opportunity to redo the decoration and buy new furniture. There
weren't too many injured people and the wounds were superficial. She
spread two of her boxes of balm on minor burns, abandoned the last
box to the innkeeper's wife for her to use it on her husband, who had
been the most injured, and gave a gulp of syrup to all those who
needed it and mostly to the children who liked the honey it was made
of. She was greeted, thanked and more than one came just to chat and
ask for minor remedy. By the time the sun was high in the sun she had
a whole list of balms and other medicine to deliver on a later date
and had seen pretty much everyone.

She was about to go back home when she was called
by a woman of brown hair and grey eyes followed by two little girls
of seven that were the mirrored image of each other. A little further
away she recognized the husband of the woman accompanied by his
eldest and youngest sons. She stopped and let the woman and the
little girls catch up with her.

Both girls stayed a little aside but the mother
approached without fear.

"Heulog how nice it is to see you."

"Mya." She greeted with a nod of her
head. "It's been a long time." She couldn't help the
reproach in her voice.

Apparently the other woman understood the meaning
of it. "Yes, things have been busy lately at the farm. How is
Bryn doing?"

Heulog let a smile graze her features. "He is
well. Things have also been… interesting for him lately. "

"Oh really?" Asked Mya her voice a
little unsettled. "How?"

Heulog's smile widened. "Well he decided it
would be a good idea to go all the way to the maze and brought back a
wounded pet."

Mya had palled. "Decided?"

"Apparently someone told him to do it. But we
both know that Bryn doesn't listen to anyone."

Now the woman's features were set in a stern face.
"So it didn't get any better?"

"What didn't?"

"You will force me to say it out loud won't
you? Fine. The voices, he still hears them?"

"As far as I know there is only one. But yes,
he still hears it. From what he told me it is also louder than it
used to be, clearer too."

At that moment Mya's husband reached them.
"Hello!" Said the man with a wide grin on his face. "I
called you at least five time. What's so entrancing?"

His wife didn't turn to him. "Voices."
She said. Suddenly the smile disappeared from the man's face.

"Ah. So they aren't gone." He shook his
head as if wanting to clear it from disturbing thoughts. "Well
as long as the boy is happy. He is, isn't he?"

For the first time Heulog's smile took on a warm
edge. "Yes he is. Of course he misses you all but I don't let
him delve on it too much. I've rarely seen such a hardworking boy.
You two are lucky parents."

The smile returned to the man's face and Mya
regained her colour. They shared a look of connivance and Heulog
wondered again how two reasonable people like them could get so
worked up over something like this.

"Speaking of which, do you know who will be
on duty next year?" Asked Bryn's father.

Her smile was swiped away replaced with her usual
frown. "It should be the Hunter's younger son. What's is name
already? Wynn? He is the only child of age in the village."

"You don't look too enthusiast."
Remarked Mya.

"I am not. This child doesn't know how to
behave. I need someone to help me, that's why I take your children in
my home and teach them to read and calculate for a whole year. With
that child I would spend more time doing discipline than receiving
actual help and he isn't one to sit still for the time it takes to
learn anything. I'd rather keep Bryn."

"You've already had him for two years."
Remind the man. "He should be looking for an apprenticeship by
now."

"Maybe I should keep him then." Wondered
Heulog aloud. "I won't be eternal and at worst there are a lot
of places were people with my knowledge would be much appreciated."

Both parents looked a little startled. The mother
was about to say something but the father interrupted her.

"If you really wanted to you'd have to ask
him. He is the one who will have to make his life with it. As for us
we'd think about it should the possibility ever present itself."
The look he gave his wife when she tried to speak again could've been
a plea or a warning. It was hard to tell with him.

Deciding that she had spent enough time here
Heulog abruptly bid them goodbye and went back home.

XYZ

Seastnan watched the old human go. He had yet to
decide if it was male or female but that wasn't very important.
Instead he focused on the boy who had been preparing for sleep. And
really it looked like it needed it. But there was something Seastnan
wanted to know.

"How did you know?" Asked the elf
bluntly.

The boy lifted his head in surprise "What?"

"You knew for the fire didn't you? You
started preparing that basket just after you helped me down. How?"

The boy's expression shifted from surprise to
distrust. "What are you talking about? It's stupid. How would I
know?" and with that it laid himself on the smaller bed. It was
a little too small and the boy had to keep his knees bent.

Seastnan thought about the human's questions for a
little while. When he spoke again he saw the boy jump a little. "Why
were you at the maze."

"What is that for a question?" Grumbled
the boy in its pillow.

"Will I have to ask all my questions twice?
Why were you at that maze that day?" Repeated Seastnan annoyed.

The boy lifted itself on its arms. "Because I
wanted to." He snapped before falling back on the bed and
rolling on his side, back to the elf.

XYZ

Heulog came home to Bryn sleeping in her bed and
the elf starring daggers at the boy's back.

She set the basket on the table and stored the
list somewhere she wouldn't lose it. Behind her she heard the elf
move and when she turned round he was sitting against the pillow,
face almost white from the pain on his side.

"You shouldn't move it's not good for you."

He looked her way briefly. "How long before I
can leave this bed?"

She shrugged, something he didn't see. "Everyone
always ask me the same question. "How long before I can leave",
"How long before I can go work again", but they never stay
put long enough anyway and I see them back a few days later with
their wounds reopened or the fever back and the only result is that
they have to go back to bed. And the answer to your question master
elf is that I won't know until I will have seen you wound completely
healed. Speaking of which, it is time to change your bandages."

The wound was clean and closing slowly. The old
human made an approving noise when it saw it. Then it applied some
balm and redid the bandage.

Then ignoring him entirely it went to haul water
from the river to fill a large cauldron. It lighted a fire under it
and sat on a nearby chair with a tunic, a needle and began to mend
it.

Seastnan watched it for a moment. Eventually he
became bored of the silence. "Are you a witch?"

The human didn't stop what it was doing. "Some
might say that. It depends on what you call a witch."

Seastnan lifted an eyebrow "I thought it was
how you, humans, called you healers. What else can it be?"

"Witches are supposed to be able to use
magic. I can't so technically I am no witch." It answered with
the slow tone of those who repeat often the same thing.

"You are only a healer then?"

"I am "only" a healer. Yes."

"Is the other human a witch?"

This time it spared him a glance, but soon its
eyes were fixed back on its work. " Why would you ask that?"

Seastnan ignored the way it avoided to answer. "So
he is. Would his magic be to know the future?"

"Don't talk about what you don't know."
Snapped the little human. "And don't go around accusing people
of what they aren't. As for the boy let him be. For now you should
really be resting."

XYZ

Bryn wanted to strangle the elf. Since he had
woken up he hadn't stopped to stare at him. The boy had even
volunteered to go look for some medicine plant for Heulog when his
body still ached from carrying the elf the other day. That was how
bothering the gaze of the elf was.

At supper, when Heulog went for her usual walk, he
decided he couldn't take it anymore.

"What!"

The elf's expression remained composed. "What?"

"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Said Bryn in a voice that he wanted calmer than it really was.

"You never answered my question."

"Which one?"

"About the fire."

"I told you it was stupid."

The elf exhaled soundly. "Look human, I don't
know what your people have against magic but my people would never
think any less of someone who could use it. So why can't you just
tell me the truth?"

Feeling intrigued Bryn took the time to ponder the
outcome of a possible explanation.

Just tell him.

Massaging his temple and regretting already he
sighed, "What would it matter to you anyway?"

It was the elf's turn to look uncertain.

"What do you know about what happened in the
maze."

Not really seeing where this was leading Bryn
shrugged. "Nothing. A bunch of your people shot you."

"What did you help me for then?"

Bryn didn't know to answer. Finally he settled on
the same question he had been asked back then. "What did I have
to loose?"

The elf stared at him hard and long. Finally he
seemed to make a decision. "There are very dangerous people
plotting the downfall of my prince back home. I learnt it a little by
chance, a little because it is my duty to protect my prince. They
accused me of being a traitor and tried to kill me so I had to flee.
One or maybe two of the people you saw shoot me were part of the
complot. I tried to warn my prince but I failed and he is now in
great danger. I absolutely need to go back and tell him everything I
know."

"What has it to do with me?"

"I can't just go there, the guard is after
me, officially I am a traitor and if I was taken then I would be
killed before I could tell anyone of what I know."

"So you want me to help you? But it doesn't
work like that. I can't see the future. All I know is that I hear a
voice in my head that warn me or sometimes simply give me advices. It
doesn't tell me the future or the past, just… if someone is calling
me or if something is happening that will affect me… That kind of
things."

"But if you came with me you could tell me
who I should be wary of and help me sneak into the palace."

"It's stupid. You won't even be able to get
there with your wound."

"Elves heal fast. By the time we reach my
city I would be fine. So what do you say?"

Yes.

Bryn sighed. In the end it
always came down to this same question "What
have you to loose?"

Heulog had asked if he was really sure to know
what he was doing, to what the voice had answered that no one could
really be sure. Of course it wasn't repeated to the old woman.

That's how, six days and very few sentences later,
they were waiting out in the woods for the sun to set. When saying
very few sentences, it would be more precise to say that beside what
the elf had planned to do once in the elf city and some exchange of
the like of "I make the fire you sort out the meal." or
"Here is your plate." nothing was said. They hadn't become
friend because of this journey and, Bryn at least, didn't feel
comfortable enough to ask personal questions.

The elf had said that it would be easier to sneak
in at night and so since midday they had stayed near a little pond
and tried to get some sleep.

When the moon rose from her hiding behind the
trees the elf gave the signal to go. They advanced as silently as
possible, which was more silently for the elf than for the human.
Bryn felt as if he couldn't make two steps without breaking a twig or
walk on dried leaves. There was no lights or road to be seen in front
of them so the human was really wondering of far this elf city was.

Bryn felt the change in atmosphere before he saw
it around them. The trees were higher, there was more space between
them, and the grass seemed greener, softer under his feet. There were
more flowers around them, more bird songs coming from above.

Soon the path they had been following became more
like a little road with stones delimiting it and sand replacing the
grass. Looking more attentively at the biggest trees he could see
light coming from beyond the leaves or sometimes even from the
trunks. As if windows had been cut in them.

Watch your left, someone is coming.

He grabbed his companion's arm and pulled him with
him behind a group of flowers bushes. As soon as they were hidden two
elves came walking from the left. They were wearing silver armours
the like of the one they had left at Heulog's but less decorated.
They passed without looking back and disappeared behind a Tree.
Squatted next to him his companion grumbled something along the lines
of "shouldn't be here" but he wasn't sure and the elf
didn't elaborate.

Back on their feet they left the bushes and
advanced at a faster pace. Twice again they had to hide and the elf
was looking more and more pale. When asked about his wound though he
only answered that everything was fine. Bryn rolled his eyes
inwardly. Elves.

As they advanced inside what he had to accept was
the elf city, there was more and more of the beautiful beings. They
were in the trees mostly, gathered on terraces but sometime Bryn saw
a few of them wandering in what seemed like flower gardens on the
ground. Those, as well as statues and fountains, seemed to be greatly
appreciated here.

The elf palace, contrarily to the other houses,
had been build out of white stone. It was high and looked strangely
gracious and weightless. It was standing in a clearing and the
moonlights glimmering on it made it look silver. Flowers and bushes
with one or two higher trees but nothing as impressive as the one
they had seen while coming here surrounded it. Bryn also noticed that
the clearing seemed to make a perfect circle.

"Over there" murmured his companion
"There's a passage for the servants. It shouldn't be guarded."
Somehow the last sentence didn't sound as confident as the elf had
been at the beginning of their journey.

They circled the castle until they reached a
vegetable garden. A door was set in the wall but as they approached
it the voice spoke again.

It is guarded.

The boy stopped abruptly and announced the new to
his companion.

Even warned though, they still almost walked right
into the guard.

This time it was the elf who grabbed Bryn's arm to
stop him. As he did so the boy made out a shadow a little further
away. There was a little tree there and someone was hidden in its
shadow. For now they hadn't been seen but they weren't well hidden
either. The elf made them retreat behind a rosebush and Bryn's sleeve
was caught by the thorns. Thorns that tore it neatly and quite
noisily. There was no way the guard would've missed it. Surely enough
someone stepped out of the shadow.

"Imhear" gasped his companion next to
him. And that too didn't go ignored by the guard. He was on them
before they could move, and even with his sword still in its sheath
he didn't look like one you could defeat easily. It didn't come to
that though because when he saw who was accompanying Bryn whatever he
was about to say got stuck in his throat and he went still. The other
elf didn't let go of the opportunity and grabbed the guard by his arm
and twisted it on its owner back as a knife was drawn to his throat.
Giving what was probably a warning in this singing language of his,
his companion then waited for the other to decide what to do.

The captured elf didn't try to resist and spoke
softly. Bryn couldn't understand anything of the conversation the two
elf were having but when it came to an end his companion released his
prisoner and turning to Bryn he shortly informed him that the other
elf was on their side.

Then they entered the palace and the boy was too
taken by his surrounding to think much about anything else. He had
never seen so many decorations in his entire life. The walls were
engraved with flowery designs, at regular interval they crossed
alcoves in which were vases of flowers. On the floor was a thick
carpet whose colours were as lively as if it was new. Next to this
Heulog's little house looked very poor and filthy. And it was just
the servants' part of the place.

Someone is coming.

He repeated the information under the surprised
gaze of the other elf. Happily for them there was an unoccupied room
a few feet away. They hid there and soon enough someone passed in the
hall. The unknown elf sent a disbelieved glance Bryn's way and asked
something in elfin which was promptly answered in the same language.
It was brief and as soon as the two elves were done the three of them
returned to the hall.

At the first embranchment Bryn followed the two
elves left but at the next they started to go left again and he
stopped them.

Go right. Don't listen to them.

"Not this way." He went to take the lead
but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"The prince's apartments are closer this
way." Argued the other elf.

Bryn shook his head and shrugged the hand off is
shoulder. Then addressing the on he had come with he said. "Maybe
they are. Maybe that day I should've gone right home instead of
pushing on as far as the maze. I only warn, you decide what to do."

He didn't wait for an answer and hurried down the
right hall. There was a pause and then someone was following, soon
the both of them were walking at his left. They were discussing
again. Apparently the other elf wasn't happy.

XYZ

Imhear had been very surprise when he rounded that
bush to fall on Seastnan. Since the hunt in the woods he had had
nightmares where he saw his friend die over and over again. Somehow
he felt responsible. He had been there but since he had doubted
Seastnan's fidelity to their prince he hadn't tried to protect him.

And there wasn't only him. It was said that since
Lady Deirbhile had learnt the death of her brother's guard she hadn't
eaten or been seen out of her room. Her chambermaid had even told the
royal healer that she was worried that her mistress would fall ill if
she continued.

So the feeling when he saw his friend in front of
him, a little white but alive, had been one of great relief. That was
why he had been so eager to help Seastnan find a way to talk to the
prince.

What he had more difficulties to accept was the
human. Human were rarely seen in the elf city. Even more rare were
those who had entered the palace. And this one only opened its mouth
to tell them were to go or when someone was approaching. Seastnan had
explained that he owed the human his life and it was probable that
they both owed him more than once to avoid unwanted encounter. But
still, in his opinion humans definitively didn't belong in the
palace.

The boy was slowly leading them toward the upper
levels, where the royal apartments were situated; only they were on
the other side of the edifice. When they left the interior of the
palace for the open sky of the terrace he was a little disconcerted,
until he saw the solitary silhouette sitting on a bench. Seastnan
recognized the prince at the same time as he did.

XYZ

"Anrai." Finally,
finally he could talk to him. It was largely worth the burning in his
side were the wound was protesting each of his movements, largely
worth the week running with too less sleep and the silent return with
the unspeaking human.

Approaching his prince and friend, he was
surprised to see him get up suddenly and turning to him in a hurry.

On his face surprise had barely the time to appear
before it was replaced with relief and finally the prince's face
became his usual expressionless self.

"I am glad to see you. I think it is time for
us to have a long conversation."

Seastnan smiled briefly. Anrai hadn't called the
guard immediately and was giving him a chance to explain.

It was exactly what he did, trying to stick to the
essential. What he had discovered, how he had been accused and, most
briefly of all, what had happened since he had fled. Only at the end
of his speech did Anrai call the guard, but when they recognized
Seastnan and went for him the prince stopped them and sent them to
take care of those whom Seastnan had accused. He also summoned the
council to expose them what had been discovered and soon the small
terrace was too small to contain all the gathered people. They moved
to the main hall were the prince made sure that everything that could
be done right now would be. Seastnan was interrogated at least a
dozen times and they didn't sleep for the whole night so by the time
everything had cooled down a little the elf was feeling like he had
one week ago in the wood. But there was till two things that needed
to be taken care of. Anrai agreed with him and took care of the
preparation for the first one while Seastnan went to take care of the
second one, followed by Imhear just in case.

In front of the door he hesitated. Briefly.
Knocking on the door he waited for someone to answer. When the door
opened on a young elf he didn't know he pushed past her and let to
Imhear the task to explain what was happening and to calm her. He
didn't hesitate one second at the second door. Opening it without
knocking he then approached swiftly of the silhouette sitting in
front of the large window.

"I asked you to let me alone." Said a
feeble voice.

"I really hope you don't mean that." He
answered while circling the chair he kneeling in front of Deirbhile.

He was met with wide teary eyes that looked at him
like one would look at a ghost. Then her beautiful face was
illuminated by a smile and she threw herself in his arms, crying in
relief and joy.

XYZ

From the moment they reached
that terrace Bryn stopped understanding any of what was happening.
Mainly because there was a lot of talking, also because there was
such movement all around that he couldn't keep trace of where the
only elf he knew was. Guards started gathering, then they all
departed in different directions, some only as far as some of the
guests present there, guests who were escorted away under the wide
eyes of their companions.

It took them quite some time to remember his
presence and when they did so it was only to lead him in a little
room were he was left alone. A few hours later food was brought to
him but the elf who was carrying it only stayed long enough to put
the trail on the table.

The second time someone entered it was his companion, dressed in clothes so fine they
would have cost a house back home. He was following the elf they had found on the terace who was as
richly dressed if not more. Kooked at his companion's arm as if she would
never let go was the most beautiful woman he would ever see. The
three of them hovered above him for a little while before the woman
advanced and spoke to him.

"We thank you for what you did. As proof of
our gratitude we would be glad if you accepted this gift."

Another elf approached who was holding a bow in
his hands. And it was a very fine object indeed. Engraved with gold
in finely design of leaves and the elf gave it to him he could
appreciate its lightness and flexibility as well as the quiver,
containing twenty or so arrows, that accompanied it. The present was
really beautiful, he would make more than on jealous when he would
show it at the village.

He thanked them and the lady smiled to him. At
this same moment other elves came, speaking in that beautiful
language of theirs that excluded any human and before he could really
understand what was happening he had been accompanied back at the
exit of the palace and whished what was probably a farewell.

A few miles away from the elf city he stopped to
think on anything that had happened in the last week and it suddenly
stuck him that he didn't know the name of the elf, who probably still
didn't know his.

END

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